Christmas at my Mother's

[Janet]

We had our Christmas gathering at my mother's house last night. We left the girls at home, but took Joey. I should have known better because it was so crowded, but he did good and everyone loved him, of course. There were 13 of us there.

We ate before we went to her house. She was having lunch meat sandwiches and ham salad. My older brother told me that my mom used hard boiled eggs left over from Thanksgiving to make the ham salad so we made sure we ate before we left. I checked on the Internet and some cookbooks I had, and hard boiled eggs in the shell should only be kept a week. She used them after a month.... She wasn't happy, but we didn't tell her why. She does this kind of stuff all the time. She'll even take a package of sausage, cut it in half to use and then just put the other half in the freezer without wrapping it at all. Just thinking about how she handles food makes my stomach roll, but I have to admit, she's never been sick from it that I know of. She's not a very good food handler.

We don't buy for each other in the family and the kids are all grown, so we don't buy for them either. We are mostly there so mom can give out her gifts and receive some from my brothers. She opens her gifts from us at our house. I think my husband got some money, my son got money and a shirt and I recieved the book by Robin McGraw.

We were only there for 90 minutes. Seems sad, but everyone opened their gifts and were ready to go. We left at 8:30 PM. It's just wayyyy to crowded to be able to enjoy yourself and some of us have to sit on the floor. I just can't do that much anymore for any length of time....kills my back. Man I hate getting old...LOL

Tonight we are going to the nursing home to eat supper with my mother-in-law and let her open her gifts from us. Then we will come home and just hang out for awhile before calling my Mom and telling her we're home and she can come out. She has spent the Christmas night with us for over 30 years. We'll all get up in the morning to open our presents. Sure am excited for my son to open his laptop. He will be soooooo surprised.

[2tiredmom]

Janet,

Merry Christmas Eve. Sounds like a busy one for you. Emily is still with baby.
Today is her due date. Nothing yet. Doubt it will be today anyway.
Have a safe and blessed Christmas and New Years.
Tell Rick Happy Be-lated Birthday.

Merry Christmas and God Bless You.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by 2tiredmom

Janet,

Merry Christmas Eve. Sounds like a busy one for you. Emily is still with baby.
Today is her due date. Nothing yet. Doubt it will be today anyway.
Have a safe and blessed Christmas and New Years.
Tell Rick Happy Be-lated Birthday.

Merry Christmas and God Bless You.

Thanks Linda....Merry Christmas to you and your family too. Maybe it will be a Christmas baby or even a New Year's Baby (all those free gifts).

[Tink]

Merry Christmas Eve ladies!
We're going to my brothers tonight for supper and to open gifts. Hopefully hubby and I will go to 10 pm church after.

My daughter is going to be there, so I hope I can just keep up my ignoring her bait. She's been here twice since she moved out to pick up mail and both times she was baiting me with comments like "I have no home" and "I've been drunk almost steady since I moved out". I know she wants me to have a fit and argue with her and I simply refuse. It was her choice to move out, and I know there's nothing to be gained by fighting with her over any of it. I hope she will behave for Christmas, but am not at all sure she will.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by Tink

Merry Christmas Eve ladies!
We're going to my brothers tonight for supper and to open gifts. Hopefully hubby and I will go to 10 pm church after.

My daughter is going to be there, so I hope I can just keep up my ignoring her bait. She's been here twice since she moved out to pick up mail and both times she was baiting me with comments like "I have no home" and "I've been drunk almost steady since I moved out". I know she wants me to have a fit and argue with her and I simply refuse. It was her choice to move out, and I know there's nothing to be gained by fighting with her over any of it. I hope she will behave for Christmas, but am not at all sure she will.

I think you're doing the right thing. When she brings up that she doesn't have a home....nicely tell her she does, but with rules...don't discuss it further. If she says anymore about being drunk, tell her you love her and hopes she takes care of her health....no more. Let her know you still love her, but don't fight with her. Just walk away if you have to. If any other family members mention it tonight, kindly tell them it doesn't concern them and that you and your husband are doing what you feel is best and that it is not open for discussion. It's none of their business anyway.

Merry Christmas to you too Tink...I wish you the very best!!!

[Tink]

Thank You Janet

My Mom and other daughter are aware of what's going on and agree that we're doing the only sensible thing with regard to Katie. My brother and his wife have probably been told about it by my mom by now. Bro and his wife are very strict, no nonsense people who I think would support what we've said. So at least for that part I'm not too worried.

My guess is that if Katie starts in too bad she will have a houseful of family telling her what's what. It just wouldn't make for a real pleasant night and I doubt she'd listen to any of them. It would likely end up like an intervention... which you really don't want to do on Christmas.

My wish is that Katie would just realize what she's doing to herself and turn it around. Maybe a Christmas miracle... It's hard to watch someone self destruct and not be able to stop them. Hopefully God will intervene, because no person seems able to reach her.